OT-?s about roundworm/puppies/germaphobe mom in a panic! TMI

[kldmom2000]

We got a 4.5 mo. old Golden Retriever 2 weeks ago. Last week I took him for his vet check and all was well . They gave me the heartgard to start him on that day and he got his Lyme vaccine and rabies vaccine (he was up to date on all other shots).

The very next day, his stool had spaghetti-looking worms in it I called the vet in a panic and they had me bring the sample down. It came back as roundworm and I was given a pamphlet and told it can be transmitted to humans esp. children. They said to call the pedi and see if she wanted to be pro-active in treatment or not. I FREAKED as I am a certified hypochondriac/germaphobe!!!

The pedi said to wait it out and just make sure we use good hand-washing skills. (We do normally) BUT I'm worried that the girls might have touched something he licked or whatever before we realized he had the worms. I'm also stressing as he's not potty-trained, so his crate is in the kitchen and we let him roam around the kitchen because it's the only floor in the house other than the bathroom that is not carpeted... he is still having accidents.

We completed the first part of the Rx-a powder med that was mixed in his food x 4 days.... we are to do another round in 2 weeks for 4 days and then return w/ a stool sample.

Anyone want a cute Golden retriever puppy??? Seriously though....I am a complete wreck right now... anxiety levels are through the roof.... anyone care to put me at ease??? You can tell I'm a first-timer at this though I did have a Golden as a child-but I never had to concern myself with this stuff then

 

[Captain_Hook]

Most puppies have worms. I have had goldens all my life and most of them had to be de-wormed as puppies. Double check with your pediatrician, but I don't think they can transmit through saliva. You need to be careful with feces and where they have pooped (in the yard -- it can be transmitted through contaminated soil that later ends up in your child's mouth). I think handwashing is the most important thing after cleaning up after the dog and thoroughly cleaning the floor after he has gone.

Not to scare you, but sometimes they need more than one dose of a de-wormer. Talk to your vet about what you can do for your yard if your kids are big into playing out there -- maybe you can get a spray once the worms are gone?

I tend to be a worry-wart so I definitely feel your panic! Try not to worry too much!

Hope that helps

 

[Matt'sMom]

Well, Good news and bad news...

First, the 'bad'. Yes, your children can potentially get roundworms from your puppy. The mode would be by ingestion of roundworm eggs, which are passed in the stool while the pup or dog has a mature adult worm living in their digestive system. Clean up thoroughly after the puppy has had any sort of 'accident' indoors, and do not allow the dog to potty outdoors in areas where your children play (because eggs will remain in the grass and soil for an extended period of time). Also be aware that a puppy who has had a roundworm infestation will likely have roundworm larva encysted in their muscle tissue, ready to migrate to the digestive system during times of stress, for the remainder of their lifetime. So, you may find the dog occasionally re-develops an active roundworm infestation, and must be re-wormed, again from time to time throughout their lifetime.

Now for the good news...

Roundworm really is very easy to deal with. You can actually use a monthly heart worm preventative product year-round which will also eliminate roundworms (Heartguard+). Very inexpensive and simple to do. I also wanted to reassure you that human roundworm infection does not occur that frequently. We have been breeding and raising beagles for more than 15 years, and my DS is currently 11 years old. I have always raised puppies 'under foot'--in other words they are in the house from the day they are born, and at 5 weeks of age I actually moved the entire litters into my kitchen so that they were well socialized and exposed to daily household goings on. Despite very frequent, daily handling of puppies (by myself, and also my son) none of us has ever had a roundworm! Likewise, none of the people we have known over the years that are involved in dog shows and performance events has had any issues with human roundworm infection (even though the pups typically have had roundworms). If you clean appropriately, and hand wash faithfully, there really is very little risk involved.

So, don't panic. Just use common sense and be careful regarding cleanliness... and the chance of any of the humans in your home acquiring a roundworm via your puppy should be slim to none.